Best Electric Fireplaces
Top 5 on Amazon
Our #1 pick is the Touchstone Sideline 36. Wall-mount, recessed, freestanding stove, log insert or TV stand: we compared the 5 best electric fireplaces on Amazon for flame look, heat and how hard they are to install.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 14, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
For most homes, the Touchstone Sideline 36 is the electric fireplace to buy. It recesses into a wall (or hangs on it with the included bracket), gives you a full 1,500 W heater with a thermostat, and has one of the best flame displays in its price band, with log and crystal media you can mix. It also has Wi-Fi, so you can switch it on from the couch with Alexa, Google Home or the app. It stays cool on the sides and back, so it can sit just 8 inches under a TV.
The right pick depends on where it goes. If you want a big, wide statement wall for less money, the R.W.FLAME 60" is under 4 inches deep and costs less than half the Sideline. If you already have a brick fireplace you never use, the duraflame Electric Log Set drops into the hearth and plugs in, with no construction at all. Renters and anyone who wants to move the fire from room to room should look at the duraflame 3D Flame Stove. And if the TV needs a stand anyway, the BELLEZE Astorga puts a 23-inch fireplace in the middle of one.
Skip the Sideline if you can’t cut into a wall and don’t like the look of a flat panel hanging on it, or if you just want a quick heat source for a cold room. A recessed unit is a small renovation job, and at 1,500 W it heats about the same as any $50 space heater. If heat is the main goal, a plain space heater is the cheaper answer; buy an electric fireplace for the look first and the warmth second.
How we picked: we compared the most popular electric fireplaces on Amazon, read what owners say after a winter of use, and checked each listing’s size, heater, flame options and install method side by side. We don’t claim hands-on tests: specs come from the listings and the verdicts reflect owner experience. Checked October 2026.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 5.
| Product | Best Overall Touchstone Sideline 36 36" recessed / wall-mount |  Best Big Wall Unit R.W.FLAME 60" 60" recessed / wall-mount |  Best Insert duraflame Electric Log Set Log insert for a fireplace |  Best Freestanding duraflame 3D Flame Stove Freestanding stove heater |  Best TV Stand Combo BELLEZE Astorga TV Stand 58" TV stand, 23" fireplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 92 / 100 | 89 / 100 | 87 / 100 | 86 / 100 | 84 / 100 |
| Best for | A built-in look under a TV | A wide linear fireplace on a budget | An old fireplace you never light | Renters and room-to-room use | A new TV stand with a fire built in |
| Typical price (checked October 14, 2026) | $430–$480 | $190–$230 | $150–$180 | $240–$280 | $300–$350 |
| Style | Recessed or wall-mount | Recessed or wall-mount | Log set insert | Freestanding stove | TV stand + insert |
| Width | 36" | 60" | See listing | See listing | 58" stand, 23" fireplace |
| Heater | 1,500 W with thermostat | 750 / 1,500 W | Infrared heater | Infrared heater | 1,400 W |
| Controls | Remote, app, Alexa, Google Home | Remote, touch screen, timer | Remote, thermostat on unit | Dials for thermostat and flame | See listing |
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BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best Overall
Touchstone Sideline 36
BeastScore 92 / 100Typically $430–$480 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The Sideline is the best all-rounder because it gets the details right. The listing says it can be recessed between framing studs or hung with the included bracket, and the front-facing heater vents mean it can sit 8 inches under a flat-screen TV. You get five flame settings, from a soft ember glow to a full blaze, and a choice of logs, crystals or both. Wi-Fi lets you run it from the app, Alexa or Google Home, and the flames run with or without heat for summer. Owners mostly praise the flame look. The catch: it draws up to 12 amps, so it may need its own circuit.
Pros- Recess it or hang it; bracket included
- Wi-Fi, Alexa and Google Home control
- Flames work with no heat for year-round use
Cons- Draws up to 12 A, so a busy circuit may trip
- Recessed install means cutting into a wall
- Costs more than twice the R.W.FLAME 60"
- 2. Best Big Wall Unit
R.W.FLAME 60"
BeastScore 89 / 100Typically $190–$230 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)If you want a long, modern linear fire across a feature wall, this is the most screen for the money. The listing gives the size as 60" wide, 18.11" tall and just 3.86" deep, slim enough to recess into a 2x6 stud wall or hang flat. You get 12 flame and ember-bed colors, five flame speeds and five brightness levels, plus a timer and both a remote and a touch panel. Heat runs at 750 W or 1,500 W for supplemental heat in up to 400 sq ft, and it has an auto shut-off if it overheats. Owners like the size and price. Fussier buyers say the flame looks more LED than real up close, and the multicolor modes feel gimmicky.
Pros- A huge 60" display for under $250
- Under 4" deep for a slim recessed or wall install
- 12 colors, 5 speeds and 5 brightness levels
Cons- Flame looks more like LED than the Sideline up close
- No Wi-Fi or voice control
- Same 1,500 W heat as smaller units, so a 60" size doesn’t mean more warmth
- 3. Best Insert
duraflame Electric Log Set
BeastScore 87 / 100Typically $150–$180 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)This is the easiest way to bring a dead fireplace back to life. It is a set of faux logs with an infrared heater built into the grate, so you place it in the hearth, plug it into an outlet and you’re done. The listing says it comes fully assembled with no vents, gas lines or construction. A remote controls the crackling sound volume, timer, flame speed and brightness, and the flame runs on its own with the heat off. Owners love how much warmer an empty brick opening looks. The downsides: you need an outlet near the hearth, and the cord shows unless you route it carefully.
Pros- Zero install: place it in the hearth and plug in
- Crackling sound you can turn up or off
- Flame and heat work separately
Cons- Needs an outlet close to the fireplace
- Power cord can be visible on the hearth
- Only makes sense if you already have a fireplace opening
- 4. Best Freestanding
duraflame 3D Flame Stove
BeastScore 86 / 100Typically $240–$280 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The duraflame stove looks like a little cast-iron wood burner, and it is the pick for anyone who can’t install anything. There is no mounting at all: set it down and plug it in. The listing highlights a 3D flame effect with glowing logs, side viewing windows, a brick-style back panel and a glass door that really opens. It uses infrared heat with an adjustable thermostat, and the flame can run with the heat off. It is one of the most-reviewed electric fireplaces on Amazon. The trade-offs are basic dial controls (the listing doesn’t mention a remote) and a footprint that takes floor space.
Pros- No install at all, just plug it in
- Cabin-style stove look with an opening door
- Easy to carry to another room
Cons- Simple dial controls; check the listing for remote details
- Takes up floor space in a small room
- Infrared heat still works like any 1,500 W-class heater
- 5. Best TV Stand Combo
BELLEZE Astorga TV Stand
BeastScore 84 / 100Typically $300–$350 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)If you need a TV stand anyway, this gets you furniture and a fireplace in one purchase. The listing says the 58-inch Astorga stand has an espresso finish, glass-pane cabinet doors and two adjustable shelves, with a 23-inch, 1,400 W electric fireplace in the center that warms up to 400 sq ft and has a crackling sound. Owners like the look for the price and the storage for consoles and boxes. Expect some assembly time, since it ships flat. The fireplace insert is the weakest flame here, and the 1,400 W heater is a touch below the 1,500 W units.
Pros- A TV stand and fireplace for less than the Sideline
- Plenty of open and closed storage
- Crackling sound with the flame
Cons- Flat-pack furniture that takes a while to assemble
- The small 23" insert looks less real than the others
- 1,400 W heater is the weakest here
All 5 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with Touchstone Sideline 36. Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- Flame realismTouchstone Sideline 36 · 9.2/10
- Heatduraflame 3D Flame Stove · 8.6/10
- Easy installduraflame Electric Log Set · 9.8/10
- FeaturesTouchstone Sideline 36 · 9.6/10
- SizeR.W.FLAME 60" · 9.8/10
- ValueR.W.FLAME 60" · 9.4/10
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
- You want a clean built-in look under a TV
- You want app and voice control
- You want a wide linear fire on a feature wall
- You want the most size for the money
- You have an old fireplace you never use
- You want zero install
- You rent or can’t mount anything
- You like the look of a wood stove
- You need a new TV stand anyway
- You want storage and a fire in one piece
Touchstone Sideline 36
A realistic flame, Wi-Fi control and a clean built-in look that sits right under a TV.
- 36" recessed or wall-mount
- 1,500 W with thermostat
- Alexa and Google Home
Quick tips before you buy
Almost every plug-in fireplace tops out around 1,500 W, about 5,100 BTU. That warms one room, not a whole house, whatever the box says.
A 1,500 W heater draws about 12.5 A. Give it its own outlet, and never run it on an extension cord or power strip.
Recessed units need the right stud depth (2x4 or 2x6). Log sets need the opening’s width and depth. Leave about 8" between the top and a TV.
Every pick here runs the flames with the heat off. That is what you will use most of the year, so pick the flame look you like best.
Quick answers
Do electric fireplaces really heat a room?+
Yes, but like a space heater. Most run at 1,500 W, which takes the chill off a room of about 400 sq ft. Claims of 1,000 sq ft assume an open, well-insulated space. Use one as supplemental heat, not a main furnace.
Are electric fireplaces expensive to run?+
The heater uses about 1.5 kWh per hour on high, so the cost is the same as any 1,500 W space heater at your electricity rate. Flame-only mode uses LED lights and costs very little to run.
Can you put an electric fireplace under a TV?+
Yes, if the heat blows out the front. The Touchstone Sideline’s listing recommends at least 8 inches between the top of the fireplace and the TV. Check each model’s clearance before you mount anything.
Do electric fireplaces need to be hard-wired?+
No. Every pick here plugs into a standard 120 V outlet. Recessed units like the Sideline can also be hard-wired by an electrician if you want no visible cord.
What is the most realistic electric fireplace?+
Of the picks here, owners praise the Touchstone Sideline’s flame most for the price. The duraflame 3D stove also looks convincing because its glowing logs sit behind a real glass door.
Can I put an electric insert in my old wood fireplace?+
Yes. A log set like the duraflame drops into the hearth and plugs in. Close the damper to stop drafts, and have any old gas line capped by a pro first.
Are electric fireplaces safe to leave on overnight?+
Treat them like any space heater: don’t leave the heater running unattended or while you sleep. Use the timer, keep 3 feet clear in front, and look for overheat shut-off, which the R.W.FLAME lists.
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